Monday, June 30, 2014

Planning a Garden

Growing Blueberries in Alkaline Soil is
Out of Harmony with the Environment.

Sandra
Goranson, Prince Edward County

John Brookes, who is considered to be one of the most influential
garden designers of our times, stated that “ The preservation of
our landscapes, of which your garden is part, is vital – and to do
this we have to find the essence of our own particular place and work
with it.“ The simple version is to work with, rather than
challenge, the environment when creating your garden. Look beyond
your property to the larger surroundings be they urban or rural, and
look at contributing to the whole as well as your own property when
designing or redesigning gardens. This does not restrict creativity;
rather it asks that creativity will focus on preserving the essence
of the place rather than fighting with it.

A simple example of ignoring this would be to grow rhododendrons or
blueberries in much of Southern Ontario where the underlying base is
limestone. Limestone provides an alkaline soil while rhododendrons
or blueberries grow most successfully in an acidic soil. The
constant struggle to vary the pH level so that this is not an issue
significantly increases maintenance requirements and is out of
harmony with the environment.

Environment includes our urban or rural neighbourhood as a part of
garden planning. The best plans for an urban front garden will not
work if they fail to consider nearby trees and the shade and the
droppings of seeds and leaves. Local traffic, including the habits
of dogs and children, is also part of this process. Planning works
better than signs or arguments after the fact.

Being a good neighbour outside of the city may have different caveats
regarding the environment. Proximity to wetlands, for example, would
require caution around introducing any invasive plant forms.
Gardeners might want to ensure that neighbouring rabbits have access
to their preferred weeds. This is easier than fencing and more
effective than mothballs. Enhancing and working with the environment
takes many forms.

John Brookes called gardens an “ephemeral art form”. Last
winter’s cold weather and ice storms changed many gardens. This
was hard in that treasured trees and shrubs were badly damaged and
some of these, as well as perennials, did not revive in the spring.
On the positive side, it also gave many of us unique opportunities to
rethink what we were doing in our gardens. Climate modifications are
always part of the process.

Watching the natural world is currently in vogue as a way of
increasing your sense of well being, so enjoy the newly recognized
benefits of watching your garden evolve in its appropriate setting.